Rack and pinion feeding machine



July 23, 1968 c. M. WHG

RACK AND PINION FEEDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan.

July 23, 1968 c. M. WHG

RACK AND PINION FEEDNG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

J7 Wm @www July 23, 1968 c. M. WHG 3,393,848v

RACK AND PINION FEEDING MACHINE Filed Jan. s, 1967 5 sheets-sheet jaag/0r (Zag/erf am a M au? July 23, 1968 c. M. WHG 3,393,848

RACK AND PINION FEEDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 23, 1968 c. M. wllG RACK AND PINION FEEDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 5, 1967 jzzfezfan fes/auf M@ MM United States Patent 3,393,848 RACK AND PINION FEEDING MACHINE Chester M. Wiig, Lincolnwood, Ill., assgnor to F. J.

Littell Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 606,648 8 Claims. (Cl. 226-152) ABSTRACT oF THE DISCLOSURE The invention employs a reciprocating rack and an overrunning clutch for intermittently rotating a pair of feeding rolls for feeding strip material a predetermined distance for each stroke. An axially movable collar is provided for rendering the ove-rrunning clutch operative or inopera-tive and when the clutch is inoperative an auxiliary driving pinion becomes operative for rotating the feeding rolls, whereby they can be inched in either direction.

The invention relates to strip feeding apparatus and has more particular reference to apparatus for intermittently feeding metal strip by means of rack and pinion mechanism.

Coacting feeding rolls have been employed as conventional mechanism for feeding strip material to auxiliary apparatus for cutting, punching and for similar operations. The feeding rolls are rotated intermittently from a main drive shaft through a reciprocating rack and a oneway clutch of the ratchet or overrunning type. During each operative stroke of the rack the feed rolls are accelerated from an idle position to maximu-m speed and during the return or inoperative stroke of the rack the rolls remain at rest.

The objective of the present invention is to provide improved mechanism of the character as described for intermittently feeding strip material and which will incorporate means under manual control for rendering the over-running clutch operative or inoperative.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of feeding apparatus of the rack and pinion type having means for rendering the overrunning clutch operative or inoperative and which will additionally incorporate auxilia-ry drive means for rotating the feed rolls when the clutch is inoperative, whereby to facilitate inching of the feed rolls for initially inserting, lining up or correlating the position of the strip material.

A further object is to provide rack and pinion type feeding mechanism wherein the feed rolls will lbe supporte-d from the side of the machine by Aa cantilever type :arrangement for the most convenient access to the rolls, wherein the feed rolls can be easily separated for the insertion of the strip material and wherein the feed rolls can be inched in either direction for initially inserting, lining up or correlating the position of the strip materi-al.

Another obje'ct of the invention is to provide rack and pinion feeding mechanism having means for rendering the overrunning clutch inoperative and which when so actuated will simultaneously render operative auxiliary drive means whereby the operator may inch the feed rolls in either direction.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings .and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts;

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, parts being shown 3,393,848 Patented July 23, 1968 in section, of strip feeding apparatus of the rack and pinion type and which embodies the improved features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the strip feeding apparatus shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE l and which shows the auxiliary drive means with the axially movable driving pinion in operative position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the strip feeding apparatus shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is 4an enl-arged sectional view showing the overrunning clutch and the axially movable collar for rendering the clutch operative or inoperative;

'FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the -axially movable coll-ar and associated parts, the same being shown in -a withdrawn position whereby the overrunning clutch is operative;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 Iof FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of 'FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIGURE 6.

The feeding apparatus of the invention is substantially contained within a housing formed by the side members 10 and 11, the front and rear walls 12 and 13 and the top and bottom walls 14 and 15. Spaced partition walls 16 and 17 are located approximately centrally of the length of the housing and above the top wall 14, the partition wall 16 assists in supporting cantilever structure which in turn journals the feeding rolls of the apparatus. The top wall of the centilever housing is indicated by numeral 18, the back wall by numeral 20, the front wall by numeral 21 and the side walls by numerals 22 and 23.

The power for reciprocating the rack to in turn rotate the feeding rolls is provided by the electric motor 25 located on the adjustable platform 2'6 which is pivotally supported by the member 27 on the top wall 14 and adjustable at 28. The pulley 30 on the power shaft 31 is belt connected to the larger pulley 32 on the auxiliary shaft 33. The worm pinion 34 meshes with the worm gear 35 on the drive shaft 36. The drive shaft 36 is suitably journalled within the housing and the face plate 37 is secured to the left hand projecting end of the same as clearly shown in FIGURE 1. The face plate 37 provides a pivot pin 38 suitably mounted in the face plate and which carries on its outwardly extending end the slidable block 40. The block is slidable within the groove 41 provided by the oscillating arm 42, all in a manner similar to that as disclosed in the Budlong Patent 3,089,345 granted May 14, 1963, for Drive Arm Structure.

The oscillating arm 42 is mounted for oscillating movement about a -pivot axis, the said pivot axis including the shaft of an electric motor 45. The shaft of the motor carries a pinion 46 which meshes with a somewhat larger pinion 47 which in turn meshes with the gear 48. By means of the worm pinion 50 on the shaft of the gear 48 and the worm gear 51 in mesh with the pinion, the threaded rod 52 is rotated in either direction for adjusting the position of the yoke 53 located adjacent the end of the arm as shown in FIGURE l. The threaded rod 52 has threaded engagement with the yoke which rides on gibs provided by the oscillating arm 42.

The reciprocating rack 54 is pivotally joined at 55 to the yoke 53 and as a result of the rotation of the face plate 37, the block 40 is caused to ride within the passageway 41 to produce oscillating movement of the arm 42 and thus reciprocating movement of the rack 54. The

action of the rotating face plate on the arm is to cause the arm to have an extended operative stroke and a relatively short return or inoperative stroke. The reciprocating movements of the rack are imparted to the feeding rolls through an overrunning clutch which will now ybe described.

The rack having the teeth 56 is reciprocated within the straight portion 57 of the clutch housing 58, FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The housing is mounted on and carried by the trunnions 59 integral with the gear 60. The teeth of the rack mesh with the gear which is adapted to rotate freely on the drive shaft 61, for which purpose there is interposed between the shaft and the pinion the bearing sleeves 49. The trunnions are integral with the gear 60 and they extend on respective sides of the gear. The right hand trunnion is extended and the same is formed to provide the cylindrical casing 62 of the overrunning clutch and which constitutes the driving member for the clutch structure. The interior or driven member of the clutch is in the form of a hub 63 which is keyed to the drive shaft 61 so that any -rotation of the hub will be transmitted to the drive shaft and thus to the feed rolls. The hub member is provided with off center gripping faces, FIGURE 10, which receive the hardened steel inserts 64 for supporting and mounting the gripping rollers `65. The rollers are disposed between the gripping faces provided by the inserts 64 and the inside cylindrical gripping surfaces of the annular casing `62 and lby means of the coil springs 66 which back up the rollers a one-way clutch is provided.

In the upward stroke of the reciprocating rack 54 the annular casing 62 is rotated in a counter-clockwise directing (FIGURE l) and the rollers merely compress the coil springs so that the hub member and thus the drive shaft are not rotated. However, when the stroke of the rack is downward the casing rotates in a clockwise direction and the rollers are gripped between the casing and the hub member which results in clockwise rotation of the hub member and also clockwise rotation of the drive shaft.

The drive shaft 61 passes through the partition wall 16 for connection with the driving vgear `67 which is accordingly located between the wall 16 and the front wall 12. The `bearing 68 journals this end of the drive shaft and a similar bearing 69 journals the opposite end in the closure plate 70 which is suitably secured to the partition wall 17.

For the purposes of this invention the one-way clutch structure must be rendered inoperative at times and this accounts for the slidable collar or sleeve 72 which is in telescoping relation with the reduced end portion of the hub member 63. The collar or sleeve is formed to provide a plurality of fingers 73 which are disposed in associated relation with the rollers 65, a finger being located adjacent each roller on the side of the same opposite the backing up coil spring 66. At the left end of the sleeve 72 a special formation provides the annular groove 74 which receives the pins 75 of the oscillating yoke 76. The shaft 77 pivots the yoke which straddles the annular groove, the said yoke being actuated by the lever member 78 having pivotal connection at 79 to the piston rod 80 of a power cylinder 81. In FIGURE 5 the power cylinder 81 has extended its piston rod to move the sleeve 72 into operative position so that the clutch structure is rendered inoperative. In FIGURE 6 the sleeve 72 is shown in withdrawn position whereby the fingers 73 have released the rollers 65. This telescoping of the sleeve will index the sleeve by reason of the angular slot 82 and the pin 83, FIGURE 6. When the sleeve is fully telescoped the fingers are indexed to engage the rollers and to move them against the tension of the lbacking up coil springs. This holds the rollers inoperative and it follows that the one-way clutch structure is likewise rendered inoperative.

The large driving gear 67 is instrumental in driving the two top feeding rolls 85 and 86- FIGURE 4. The two lower feeding rolls 87 and 88 are in turn rotated in unison and to an equal extent by their respective top roll, FIGURE 1. The spaced walls 90 and 91 of the forward cantilever section contain bearings such as 92 for the top rolls and 93 for the bottom rolls. The journalled shafts for the top rolls are operatively connected by the universal joints 94 to the stud shafts 95 which in turn are connected to the gears 96 which mesh with the large gear 67. In a similar manner the journalled shafts of the bottom rolls 87 and 88 are connected by the universal joints 97 to stud shafts 98 which have connection with the gears 99. The said gears 99' mesh with their respective gear 96 and accordingly all four of the feeding rollers are driven 'by the large drive gear 67.

When the sleeve 72 is fully telescoped on the hub 63 as shown in FIGURE 5, the clutch structure is inoperative and the feeding rolls can be rotated independently of the reciprocating rack. Simultaneously with the actuation of the sleeve 72 to the position as shown in FIGURE 5, the invention contemplates that auxiliary drive ,means as shown in FIGURE 3 will be rendered operative. The said drive means `functions to drive the large gear 67 and the same includes the electric motor 100 supported on the platform 101 and driving the pulley 102 which is connected -by the endless belt 103 to the pulley 104. The pulley is fixed on the d-rive shaft of a speed reducer 105. The output shaft of the speed reducer carries the pinion 106 which -meshes with the gear 107 fixed to the auxiliary drive shaft 108. The drive shaft is journalled at 110 in wall 16 and at 111 in wall 17 and said shaft includes a spline section 112 on which is mounted the pinion 113 for slidable movement. As shown in FIGURE 3 the pinion is in mesh with the large gear 67 for driving the feed rolls. The sleeve on which the pinion 113 is mounted is provided with an annular groove which receives the pins 114 of the yoke 115. The yoke is pivotally mounted and the same is oscillated by the power cylinder 116 through the piston rod 117 and associated connections. The power cylinder 116 is rendered operative to extend the pinion 113 for meshing relation with the large gear `67 when the clutch structure is made inoperative. However, when the clutch structure is operative then the pinion 113 is withdrawn so as to free itself from the large gear 67.

To facilitate the initial entry of the strip material between the feeding rolls, the top rolls 85 and 86 can be elevated and separated from the bottom rolls 87 and 88 respectively. The bearings 92 for the top rolls are retained in floating blocks capable of moving vertically within the walls 90 and 91. During operation the bearing-retaining `blocks are forced in a downward direction by the power cylinders 120 and 121. Accordingly the 'bite between the top and bottom rolls is such as to maintain good frictional contact with the strip material being fed by the rolls. The power cylinder 122 can ybe energized when it is desired to separate the feeding rolls. The piston rod 123 has contact with the depending end of lever 124 which is pivoted at 125 to the frame elements of the cantilever section. This pivot connect-ion provides the lifting cams 126 which are positioned so as to lift the hearing-ret-aining blocks for this end of the top rolls. Similar lifting cams 127 are positioned within wall 90 for lifting the bearing-retaining blocks for the opposite end of the top rolls. A pivoted link 128 and associated levers operatively connect the lifting cams 126 and 127.

When the feeding rolls have been separated, the initial introduction of the strip material is facilitated by the hand operated roller 130. The said roller is useful also in the inching operations on the strip material for lining up the Imaterial and in correlating the same for subsequent operations. Roller 130 is journalled at respective ends in side walls 131 and said roller is provided with au enlarged central section 132 as shown in FIGURE 4. The numeral 133 indicates the contacting roller having contact with the enlarged section 132 and the strip material -is placed between these two members and the same can be fed in either direction vby rotation of the roller 130.

The said roller can be rotated lby the operator by means of the crank handle 134.

After the strip material has been placed between the top and bottom feeding rolls, the rolls are closed on the material and the motor 25 can now be energized for reciprocating the r-ack 54. In the event the feeding lengths are not as accurate as desired, the electric motor 45 can be energized for rotating the threaded rod 52. Rotation of the threaded rod will adjust the position of the pivot connection of the rack 54 with the oscillating arm 42. An adjustment will be accurate within a few thousandths of an inch can be obtained. It may be necessary at times to adjust the position of the strip -material with respect to the feeding rolls. For this purpose the overrunning clutch is rendere-d inoperative and the auxiliary drive is rendered operative. With the energization of the motor 100 the feeding rolls can .be rotated independently of the rack and pinion structure and when the strip material has been precisely adjusted the operator can resume intermittent feeding.

The invention is not to be limited to or Iby details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings as various other forms of the device will, of course, fbe apparent to those skilled -in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, the cornbination with a rack adapted to be reciprocated, an overrunning clutch including a drive shaft to which is connected a drive gear, said clutch providing a one-way drive between the rack and the drive shaft, slidable means in associated relation with the clutch capable of rendering the clutching elements thereof inoperative, whereby the rack can be completely disconnected from the ldrive shaft, auxiliary driving means for driving the shaft including a rotatable member having a spline portion, a pinion on the spline portion for slidable movement, and means for locating the pinion in meshing relation with the drive gear when the said slidable means has been so located as to render the clutching elements of the clutch inoperative.

2. In -apparatus of the character described by claim 1, wherein the slidable means capable of rendering the clutching elements `of the `clutch inoperative comprises a sleeve providing a plurality of spaced fingers for coaction with the clutching elements respectively.

6. In apparatus of the character described by claim 1, additionally including at least one pair of coacting feedin grollers comprising a Ibottom feeding roller and a top feeding roller, gear means operatively connecting the shaft of the bottom roller with the shaft of the top roller, the gear on the shaft of the top roller having meshing relation with said drive gear, and lever means having associated relation with the shaft of the top roller for lifting the top roller to separate the same from the bottom roller when the said lever means are actuated.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a rack adapted to be reciprocated, an overrunning clutch mounted on a drive shaft to which is connected a drive gear, said clutch comprising a pinion gear mounted for independent rotation on the drive shaft and providing an annular casing, said rack having meshing relation with the pinion gear whereby the casing is rotated lfirst in a clockwise direction and then in a counterclockwise direction as the rack is recipro-cated, a hub member fixed to the drive shaft, clutching elements carried by the hub member and adapted to be engaged by the casing when the casing is rotated in a certain direction to form a one-way clutch, a sleeve providing a plurality of fingers for rendering the clutching elements inoperative when the sleeve is caused to fully telescope the hub, -auxiliary driving means for driving the shaft including a rotatable member having a spline portion, ya pinion on the spline portion for slidable movement, and means for locating the pinion in meshing relation with the drive gear when the sleeve is so positioned that the fingers thereof render the clutching elements inoperative.

5. In apparatus of the character described by claim 4, additionally including at least one pair of -coacting feeding rollers comprising a bottom feeding roller and top feeding roller, gear means operatively connecting the shaft of the bott-om roller with the shaft of the topl roller, the gear on the shaft of the top roller having meshing relation with said drive gear, and lever means having associated relation with the shaft of the top roller for lifting the top roller to separate the same from the bottom roller when the said lever means are actuated.

6r. In feeding mechanism for intermittently feeding strip material, the combination including a bottom feeding roller journalled for rotation, a top feeding roller also journalled for rotation by means of blocks mounted for vertical movement, the top roller coacting with the bottom roller to feed strip material therebetween, lever means in associated relation with the movable blocks and elective when actuated to lift the top roller so as to separate the same from the bottom roller, a drive shaft, gearing operatively connecting the drive shaft with the top and bottom rollers, a reciprocating rack, an overrunning clutch on the drive shaft providing a one-way drive between the rack and the shaft, means capable of rendering the overrunning clutch inoperative, auxiliary driving means for rotating the drive shaft, and means for rendering the auX- iliary -driving means operative -or inoperative.

7. In feeding mechanism for intermittently feeding strip material as defined by claim 6, wherein the gearing for operatively connecting the drive shaft with the top and bottom rollers includes a large gea-r on the drive shaft, and wherein the auxiliary driving means includes a rotatable member having a spline portion, a pinion on the spline portion for slidable movement, and wherein the means for rendering the auxiliary driving means operative or inoperative functions to move the pinion on the spline, the said pinion having meshing relation with the large gear when the auxiliary driving means are operative.

'8. In feeding mechanism for intermittently feeding strip material as defined by claim 6, wherein the means capable of rendering the overrunning clutch inoperative is correlated with the means for rendering the auxiliary driving means operative or inoperative, whereby when the yclutch is rendered inoperative by said first named means the auxiliary driving means are operative and vice versa.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,756,994 7/1956 Wiig 226-152 X 2,758,837 -8/1956` Littell 226--157 X 3,013,708 12/'1961 Adams 226-15'6 3,089,345 5/1963 Budlong 226-156 X M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner. R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

